Comments on: How To Make a Skill Challenge Fun, Part 2 — The world’s a stage. http://at-will.omnivangelist.net/2008/12/how-to-make-a-skill-challenge-fun-part-2-the-worlds-a-stage/ Inspired 4e Design Tue, 08 Nov 2011 04:35:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2 By: Bill http://at-will.omnivangelist.net/2008/12/how-to-make-a-skill-challenge-fun-part-2-the-worlds-a-stage/comment-page-1/#comment-8363 Bill Mon, 07 Mar 2011 06:13:57 +0000 http://at-will.omnivangelist.net/?p=124#comment-8363 Hey great minds think alike. ;-) I use a green d12 to count successes, and a red d12 for failures, just flipping to a new number to increment each. As soon as the green or red d12 show up in front of the screen, the players know they are in a skill challenge. Been DMing 4E since it came out, and still looking for new ways to make skill challenges more seamless and fun. The best thing I've done was to have a couple practice challenges outside of the game to coach them on how they should play through challenges. Once they caught on, it's (usually) been pretty fun and painless. Another thing I've learned is to just say f*** it when a challenge isn't working, or isn't fun. I either shorten it to an easier level to get it over with, or just say 'group check' and call it good. Sometimes you design a challenge that you think is going to be brilliant, but it turns out to be dull, no matter how incredibly you RP it. Maybe because the group is dead that night, or maybe you didn't set the motivation up just right, or whatever. When it happens, just move on ASAP. Hey great minds think alike. ;-) I use a green d12 to count successes, and a red d12 for failures, just flipping to a new number to increment each. As soon as the green or red d12 show up in front of the screen, the players know they are in a skill challenge.

Been DMing 4E since it came out, and still looking for new ways to make skill challenges more seamless and fun. The best thing I’ve done was to have a couple practice challenges outside of the game to coach them on how they should play through challenges. Once they caught on, it’s (usually) been pretty fun and painless.

Another thing I’ve learned is to just say f*** it when a challenge isn’t working, or isn’t fun. I either shorten it to an easier level to get it over with, or just say ‘group check’ and call it good. Sometimes you design a challenge that you think is going to be brilliant, but it turns out to be dull, no matter how incredibly you RP it. Maybe because the group is dead that night, or maybe you didn’t set the motivation up just right, or whatever. When it happens, just move on ASAP.

]]> By: Andy http://at-will.omnivangelist.net/2008/12/how-to-make-a-skill-challenge-fun-part-2-the-worlds-a-stage/comment-page-1/#comment-3277 Andy Thu, 24 Dec 2009 08:16:55 +0000 http://at-will.omnivangelist.net/?p=124#comment-3277 Very, very clever take on skill challenge insertion. I'm reading through these articles now, seeing as I've a little time to read around. I really like the idea of using tokens as nonverbal reminders. Quite clever indeed. Very, very clever take on skill challenge insertion. I’m reading through these articles now, seeing as I’ve a little time to read around. I really like the idea of using tokens as nonverbal reminders. Quite clever indeed.

]]> By: Como fazer um desafio de perícias divertido, Parte 2 – O mundo, um palco. http://at-will.omnivangelist.net/2008/12/how-to-make-a-skill-challenge-fun-part-2-the-worlds-a-stage/comment-page-1/#comment-2438 Como fazer um desafio de perícias divertido, Parte 2 – O mundo, um palco. Wed, 05 Aug 2009 11:04:34 +0000 http://at-will.omnivangelist.net/?p=124#comment-2438 [...] Artigo publicado no site At Will sob o título original How to Make a Skill Challenge Fun, Part 2 – The World’s a Stage. [...] [...] Artigo publicado no site At Will sob o título original How to Make a Skill Challenge Fun, Part 2 – The World’s a Stage. [...]

]]> By: How To Make Skill Challenges Fun, Part 3: Pacing Yourself. - At Will http://at-will.omnivangelist.net/2008/12/how-to-make-a-skill-challenge-fun-part-2-the-worlds-a-stage/comment-page-1/#comment-1794 How To Make Skill Challenges Fun, Part 3: Pacing Yourself. - At Will Tue, 26 May 2009 00:51:21 +0000 http://at-will.omnivangelist.net/?p=124#comment-1794 [...] Part 1 of this series, we discussed axioms of skill challenges.  In Part 2 we discussed the need for improvisation and the importance of pink and purple [...] [...] Part 1 of this series, we discussed axioms of skill challenges.  In Part 2 we discussed the need for improvisation and the importance of pink and purple [...]

]]> By: jonathan http://at-will.omnivangelist.net/2008/12/how-to-make-a-skill-challenge-fun-part-2-the-worlds-a-stage/comment-page-1/#comment-1159 jonathan Tue, 13 Jan 2009 20:24:09 +0000 http://at-will.omnivangelist.net/?p=124#comment-1159 nice add. I'm going to have to suggest this to my group (since I'm taking a DM break for a while), our new DM is still learning the ropes, so she is still open to suggestions. nice add. I’m going to have to suggest this to my group (since I’m taking a DM break for a while), our new DM is still learning the ropes, so she is still open to suggestions.

]]> By: gamefiend http://at-will.omnivangelist.net/2008/12/how-to-make-a-skill-challenge-fun-part-2-the-worlds-a-stage/comment-page-1/#comment-1111 gamefiend Mon, 05 Jan 2009 04:00:23 +0000 http://at-will.omnivangelist.net/?p=124#comment-1111 That's pretty much it. I usually go subtle first: "You don't know how much longer you can keep having these close calls" or "You think he's starting to catch on." If it's still not coming through, then yeah, I just let them know. "Hey, you're done with that!" That’s pretty much it. I usually go subtle first:

“You don’t know how much longer you can keep having these close calls”

or

“You think he’s starting to catch on.”

If it’s still not coming through, then yeah, I just let them know. “Hey, you’re done with that!”

]]> By: Noumenon http://at-will.omnivangelist.net/2008/12/how-to-make-a-skill-challenge-fun-part-2-the-worlds-a-stage/comment-page-1/#comment-1110 Noumenon Mon, 05 Jan 2009 02:33:23 +0000 http://at-will.omnivangelist.net/?p=124#comment-1110 Question. When a skill has "Stealth (easy DC, maximum of two successes)", how do you DM that? Do you tell them "That's probably the last time that will work"? Question. When a skill has “Stealth (easy DC, maximum of two successes)”, how do you DM that? Do you tell them “That’s probably the last time that will work”?

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